THE DOCTRINE OF
THE FALL AND REDEMPTION
Since
the concept of works righteousness involves a denial of sin, it entails a form
of self-deception that seems reasonable to our sin corrupted way of thinking.
For that reason, many people find it hard to understand that we are not saved
by what we do, but by what Christ did for us on the cross. Therefore, to more
effectively get that message across, the Apostle Paul drew an analogy between
the sin of one man (Adam), and the obedience of one man (Christ). That analogy
is found in the fifth chapter of His Epistle to the Romans.
THE
CONSEQUENCE OF ADAM’S SIN
Romans 5:12-14 Therefore, as sin entered into the
world by one man, and death by sin; and so death
passed upon all men, for all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the
world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.) Nevertheless death reigned
from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the similitude of
Adam’s transgression, who is a type of him who was to come.
[Comment: In verse
12 Paul reminds us that as a result of Adam’s sin, we are all going to die, for
we have all sinned. In verses 13-14 he then makes it clear that the law will
not save us, by pointing out that people were dying (and going to hell) before
the law was ever given, and, therefore, before the sins of the law were ever
imputed to men.]
THE
PARALLEL
Romans 5:15-19 But the free gift is not like the fall.
For if through the sin of one many died, much more the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of one man, Jesus
Christ, has abounded to many. Likewise the gift of
God is not like the result of that one sin: for the sentence from one sin
brought condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto
justification. For if death reigned through one man’s sin; how
much more shall those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of
righteousness reign in life through one man, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as
through the sin of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even
so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto
justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners,
so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
[Comment: In verse
15 Paul tells us that even though what Adam did had the opposite effect of what
Christ did, there is a similarity because in both cases what was done by one
affected all. In verse 16 he points the radical difference between the result
of Adam’s sin, and the result of God’s gift (the gift of forgiveness that Christ
won for us through His death on the cross). In verses 17-19 he elaborates on
the parallel by pointing out the spiritual significance of both Adam's sin, and
Christ's sacrificial death on our behalf.]
Romans 5:20-21 Moreover the law entered, that the
offence might abound. But where sin
abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin has reigned unto death,
even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus
Christ our Lord.
[Comment: Since
Paul told us in verses 12-14 that men were sinners and were dying as a result
of sin before the law was given and thus before the sins of the law were ever
imputed to anyone, in these two verses (verses 20-21) he assures us that the
grace that is ours in Christ is sufficient to cover all sin (both the sin in
our nature, and the sin of transgressing the law).]
CONCLUSION
Paul
drew this parallel in order to emphasize the fact that we are not made
righteous by what we do, but by what Christ did for us. In verse fifteen we are
told that grace is a gift, in verse sixteen we are told that justification is a
gift, and in verse seventeen we are told that righteousness is a gift. The
point being that our salvation is a gift. As it is written, "For the wages
of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans
Gary Ray Branscome